KOLKATA
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey warned that the chaos surrounding football superstar Lionel Messi’s event at Salt Lake Stadium could damage Bengal’s sporting reputation for decades.
The opening leg of Messi’s four-city ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’ in Kolkata descended into disorder on Saturday morning amid serious crowd management and security lapses. The Argentine great was surrounded and jostled by selfie-seeking politicians and VIPs, forcing the programme to be cut short. Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, wrapped up the event within 20 minutes before leaving for Hyderabad later in the evening.
The abrupt end triggered unrest among fans, many of whom had spent thousands of rupees to attend the programme. Angry spectators vandalised parts of the Salt Lake Stadium, leaving behind broken chairs, damaged canopies and litter strewn across the pitch.
Calling the episode “very unfortunate” for a city long regarded as the Mecca of Indian football, Chaubey said the fallout would be felt far beyond the immediate embarrassment. “When something like this happens, it is noticed internationally. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are global icons followed by millions. Wherever they go, the world media follows,” he said during a BJP media interaction.
“This is not a loss for one person or one political party. It is a loss for Bengal and for the entire country,” Chaubey added, warning that the incident could hurt future bids to host international sporting events. “If India bids for a major match in West Bengal, this incident will act as an impediment. Its impact will be felt for 50 years in Bengal.”
The AIFF chief noted that Kolkata has successfully hosted legends such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthäus in the past, with dignity and order. “What happened was avoidable,” he said, stressing that sport is a key element of soft power, especially as India prepares to host major global events in the coming years.